National hero Dr. Jose Rizal believed in the power of youth, as evident in his famous quote “the youth is the hope of our future.”
It may sound cheesy to some, but Rizal made sure that his message will make waves up to the present day.
Believing that the youth will be the backbone of a thriving society is great, but children’s safety and protection are a different matter.
As of 2017, the World Health Organization released an estimated number of abuses and violence perpetrated towards minors aged 2 to 17 worldwide. In the report showed to the public, up to a billion kids have endured different forms of physical, emotional, and mental attacks.
In the Philippines, the United Nations Children’s Fund found out that 8 in 10 children and young people have experienced different forms of maltreatment in their lifetime. And it usually begins at home.
The continuous build-up of victims all over the world pushed the Save the Children Foundation to fight for what is right for the youth.
Save the Children has been safeguarding kids in the Philippines for more than three decades.
The foundation aims to protect and support children that are in need, save lives that are in danger, fight for the right of a child and create better lives for the youth in the country.
Humanitarian Response
Save the Children is always ready to show up when disasters and armed conflicts affect the lives of the young ones.
The group focuses on giving the victims the long-term support that they need in the form of livelihood, education and a stronger community resilience program.
Other than the long-term support, Save the Children provides access to food, shelter, clean water, education and healthcare. Another program they have is the Preparedness, Risk Reduction and Resilience Building lectures to ready the whole country in facing dangers and threats.
Health and Nutrition
A healthy child is a happy child–that is the proper way to explain how important nutrition and health for children.
Save the Children also teaches parents and teachers on the significance of proper childcare and nutrition, while training kids and teens on hygiene and dental care. They also carry out malnutrition treatment programs for the less fortunate.
And lastly, they give emergency healthcare for children and families affected by armed or natural disasters.
Education
Learning begins before birth!
Now more than ever, the early years are being recognized as the foundation of human development and life-long learning.
All children should have access to appropriate support right from birth. Save the Children works with relevant service providers to support female and male caregivers and ensures that young children’s needs for good health, optimal nutrition, security and safety, opportunities for early learning, and responsive caregiving are provided from age 0.
Save the Children creates breakthroughs in developing mother tongue books, which are developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive. A Book Development Review Committee for mother tongue languages in Mindanao was even established, ensuring an inclusive process comprised of tribal chieftains, community leaders, teachers, parents, and elders. These books cover topics on indigenous games, culture, and traditions.
Childs’ Rights and Protection
All children, especially the most vulnerable, must be protected at all costs. Hence, Save the Children works with government, non-government organizations, children’s groups, schools and communities to strengthen the protective environment for children.
The group also joins forces with the government at national and local levels to pass and implement laws and policies that will protect children from all forms of violence.
Presently, Save the Children is persuading Congress to pass a law that would protect children from physical and humiliating punishment, while promoting positive discipline.
With the partnership with government agencies and NGOs, the foundation assists parents, caregivers and teachers to change the way they discipline children into more positive and non-violent ways through its Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting and Positive Discipline in Everyday Teaching trainings all over the country.
To know more about Save the Children Philippines, visit its website https://www.savethechildren.org.ph/